Accepted an offer - now what?

After a crazy semester of difficult courses and investment banking recruiting, I finally received a few offers and accepted my top choice last month. My question is, now what? I'm currently abroad, and the way my courses have worked out, I have a fraction of the workload I did last semester, and am no longer spending time networking/studying for interviews. I now have plenty of time to pleasure read, work out, go out and have fun, and travel, but still find that I now have too many hours in the day (not to gloat too much...). Is there anything I can do to possibly help prepare more for this summer? I've done some practice modeling and read up a lot on industry news, but am looking for more to do.

Is it bad practice to email the analysts in the office? I networked a bit with a few of them throughout my process, but haven't spoken to them since accepting the offer in mid-January. I also don't have much at ask aside from "I'm bored - is there anything you recommend me reading up on for the summer?". I am studying in the city I'll be working in this summer (London), so I could hypothetically meet them for coffee. I'm not sure if the standard changes now that I've finished interviewing and accepted the offer though (to suit or not to suit? and what is the 'purpose' now that I've accepted their offer?).

Is there anything else worth doing in the meantime to prep aside from practice modeling/knowing the WSO guide backwards and forwards? Or should I just forget about all of this until summer?

Also, for background - I'm an Econ major, headed to a real estate boutique that does a mix of REIB, DCM, and brokerage. I'm unsure exactly which group I'll be placed in at this point, and I have a feeling that I may end up doing a lot of work across groups given the small sizes of both the office and the analyst class.

 

Your letter should have stated approximate start date and some basic stuff about orientation and whatnot.

You've landed the offer and signed it. Go have an epic party.

Just my thoughts of course.

 

you'll probably be placed into a coverage group maybe in may or so. they might have you back in there. if its rotational, i dunno

you'll probably hear from them next when they arrive at your door and make you take the mandatory drug test. it's unannounced. (kidding)

enjoy, and i also recommend epic party

btw you can always call them can't you? might show some interest and initiative on your behalf.

 

Did you already do the coke and hookers thing? If not, that's what you do now, just like how you did all your studies in preparation for college.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

Well, you don't die. Also get laid as much as possible, because you likely will be cutting your getting laid time down drastically.

Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne
 

Have a lot of fun bud.

Also, take the GMAT by June if you think you'll to B-School within 5 years. Taking the GMAT while working sucks,

"If you want to succeed in this life, you need to understand that duty comes before rights and that responsibility precedes opportunity."
 

If you have a full time offer, great. Make sure you don't fail out of college and that you finish all of your required courses/major. If you don't care much about grades, why not audit classes that interest you but otherwise might intimdate you (subjects you are not good at, or too much reading etc). Join some new clubs. Pick up a sport or an instrument, meet some new people, volunteer etc etc etc... Since frankly, grades don't matter much any more (unless you want honors or something). And yes. Of course you can party a lot too.

In other words enjoy the freedom and make the most of it.

Good Luck

I used to do Asia-Pacific PE (kind of like FoF). Now I do something else but happy to try and answer questions on that stuff.
 

My 2 cents: do not spend time searching for meaning of life and other bullshit like that unless you already regret taking banking offer. You will resent your job pretty soon (not ideal as a 1st year analyst) yet don't have enough time to change your career.

 

Try and plan a Eurotrip or something like that for after you graduate. Went to Europe for about a month and a half before I started working full-time - hands down one of the best decisions I've ever made. You'll never have this much free time again, so take full advantage of it.

Next stop: Flavortown!
 

Do something that's unique (or less boring) like bagpacking through Eastern Europe or take up sailing in Cuba? I have friends in banking who have done both. Since we're on a site like WSO, we can be more practical about this. Here's why I think these trips are nice. In the beginning, whether you're on a team or go in as a generalist, you need to answer the question "what did you do after you graduate," and it's a lot easier to be memorable when you actually do something unique.

Just my two cents.

Also, booze, partying, and all that jazz And GMAT, definitely GMAT (best fuckin decision I made during senior year)

 

Numbers seem a bit off vs bloomberg and mergermarket.

From mergermarket: 1. GS 479 bn 2. JPM 407 bn 3. BAML 396 bn 4. MS 385 bn 5. Barcap 292 bn 6. UBS 238 bn 7. DB 195 bn 8. Citi 170 bn 9. Guggenheim 151 bn 10. CS 143 bn

 

They may not have the offer 100% firmed up (aka start date, specific benefits, etc.). They may need to hold a formal meeting in order to establish these components of the offer, and the meeting might not be scheduled until the following week.

We had similar dynamics at the bank I worked at in terms of not being able to give people offers until after the committee met on a certain date.

~~~~~~~~~~~ CompBanker

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

so nobody thinks that the recruiter or some outside agency is basicly verifying everything my colleague said / claimed? he was very worried that a reference of his would say something poorly about him and that the offer would be rescinded

 

I just don't want to be the weird kid who is bugging the busy analysts/associates. I think it would be safer to just wait till I start or go to one of the receptions closer to the start date and interact there?

 
ivey_ib:
I just don't want to be the weird kid who is bugging the busy analysts/associates. I think it would be safer to just wait till I start or go to one of the receptions closer to the start date and interact there?

Save your work-related questions for later, but at least befriend them over drinks and try to get some feelers for the group (and other basics that won't be so boring to talk about)

 

no analyst is going to remember he got a drink with a googly-eyed college kid in March. What matters in determining your fate is working your ass off June-Aug, being a good guy, and partying alot and attending happy hours.

If you got an offer and its early feb and you somehow are wondering "what to do"....the answer is pretty simple: go to the nearest store, grab a 30-bomb and get slammed with your buds then hit the bar I dont really see any other answer

 

Classic uncreative / unimaginative banker mindset. "help, i need a path to follow!"

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Get pussy, experiment with psychedelics, sky's the limit

~High GPA Crew~ ~Firms Reach Out to Me Crew~ ~Round Down My GPA to Look Modest Crew~ ~Never Use 'Incoming' on LinkedIn Crew~
 

read books Coursera get a rotation of FWB going work out try to become a YouTube celeb for something ridiculous learn to cook better do outdoorsy shit photography bring your mom some flowers tinder paper clip jewelry become well-versed in sports because finance people seem to love them more books. more laid. more work out. more flowers for mom

heister: Look at all these wannabe richies hating on an expensive salad. https://arthuxtable.com/
 
CatsLHP:
Take the sure thing. Especially in this environment.

agreed...if anything you can always apply/look for other work after next summer...with some luck things will be better then than they are now.

 

Everyone likes surprises! Congrats on the offer.

Ok, firstly, omg, no you don't have to bring your FT contract with you to interviews, i hope this was not a serious question... :D

Your firm should only get a call about you for a reference after you've received an offer - your team leader or other member of your team (e.g. buddy) would be used as a job referee because I am assume they will be your most recent employers?

If you want to shop around, just be discreet about it, don't tell loads of people and do it soon.

You could always sign the MM contract and then see if you can get something better....

 

I really would prefer to avoid a bad situation like signing their offer and then reneging once something better came along. I'm a big believer in not burning bridges, and wouldn't they give me a crap reference if I did that? Seems like a horrible idea.

My main concern is the money situation, because my offer is below street since it is a regional/no-name MM. I don't want a better bank to know what they are offering me and then offer the same amount. What do I do if they ask me how much how much the other bank is offering me?

 

At the end of the day, if they ask you how much you were paid/could expect to be paid at the MM firm, you would have to be honest, i agree.

why would e.g. a BB, offer you anything other than the standard analyst wage?

 
joefish:
why would e.g. a BB, offer you anything other than the standard analyst wage?

Because they could save money? Seems pretty obvious to me.

Also, I'll be looking more at MM firms rather than BBs, and I'm guessing the former are more flexible when it comes to base and bonus.

 
joefish:
ER.. if you've got any sort of intelligence, you'll know what the base salary is at a bank BEFORE you apply

Er...why do you constantly attempt to give advice to others when you aren't even a full-time banker and don't know what the fuck you're talking about? Doofuses like yourself are hurting this board - I'm looking for advice from people working in the industry, not another summer intern.

On your second point, you're a f'n moron if you think people only apply to places once they know how much the compensation is. That's completely ass-backwards.

 

i have never heard of this happening... banks realize their analysts compare numbers with each other, and it'd be pretty awkward if an analyst confronted them about their salary being lower than a classmate's. as far as i can tell, banks have been standard in their comp packages across their classes

 

Judging by the quality and content of joefish's posts, I don't think he is even interning in banking. I know he said so, but I don't believe it.

​* http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting
 

If anything you can check their website for confirmation. Go to your application online and see if the progress is updated to Offer Accepted or something.

My HR confirmed with me on my acceptance but i have not heard from them since November and i start in July.

 

Same thing for me. Bad situation not to be in contact with the people and knowing that your offer could be rescinded. But what can you do? Personally, I don't stay in touch with my future team since there is nothing important to talk to them about. And they will probably be annoyed by an email which has absolutely no content. So personally, I see more downside than upside when it comes to staying in touch with them.

However, this is in Europe, so not sure whether networking is as important as in the US. Also, I am currently still working at the firm I will join in July as a part-time intern (although in a different office), so I have at least some exposure to my future team (limited to 2-3 people in a 30-person or so team).

In a nutshell: no communication with future team, except when work related. Hope that helps.

 
another monkey:
Same thing for me. Bad situation not to be in contact with the people and knowing that your offer could be rescinded. But what can you do? Personally, I don't stay in touch with my future team since there is nothing important to talk to them about. And they will probably be annoyed by an email which has absolutely no content. So personally, I see more downside than upside when it comes to staying in touch with them.

However, this is in Europe, so not sure whether networking is as important as in the US. Also, I am currently still working at the firm I will join in July as a part-time intern (although in a different office), so I have at least some exposure to my future team (limited to 2-3 people in a 30-person or so team).

In a nutshell: no communication with future team, except when work related. Hope that helps.

I see. Thank you for your input!

 

Can you come up with a good reason to contact them? i.e. If it is not in your home city, email some of the younger people that interviewed you to ask for pointers on apartment search, etc

 
wso1234:
Can you come up with a good reason to contact them? i.e. If it is not in your home city, email some of the younger people that interviewed you to ask for pointers on apartment search, etc

Yeah I guess just come up with some questions once in a while. Maybe ask to chat with a couple of junior people for advice or grab coffee when I am in town. Not much you can do.

I just don't know if incoming analysts are EXPECTED to stay in touch before they start.

 

If you are already placed in groups, I'd just try to keep in touch with some of the people once or twice before you start in a very casual and social way, simply for the sake of keeping in touch. If you're in the city anytime before you start, maybe grab coffee with some analysts or something. Nothing too formal here. FYI I wouldn't be worried about layoffs because they won't hit incoming first years (at least at the BB and elite boutiques), it simply will not happen. Even if your entire group gets the boot before you start (this happened to a few BB's in the last few years), they'll still find a place for you, given you haven't even started and they have no reason to fire you.

HOWEVER, if you are NOT placed in groups, you should be networking your ass off to get into your top choice group, whatever that may be.

 

i got invited to their xmas party by email, though the date conflicted with my final exam unfortunately... also i got a few emails from analysts updating me on their latest position on the league table and deals. i don't contact them unless i have questions/concerns, such as series 7 and training.

 

If you've already got the offer, maybe shoot off one email in January and another a month before start date. Just to "check in."

I'll do what I can to help ya'll. But, the game's out there, and it's play or get played.
 

Non-existent, and I generally notice that they no longer worship the ground I walk on like they did before I accepted the offer.

"They are all former investment bankers that were laid off in the economic collapse that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have no marketable skills, but by God they work hard."
 

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